louise on the left (coast)

Freelance artist  Justin Majeczky  shot this  beautiful time-lapse of the milky way  as seen in the night sky over Lake Tahoe.

Usually, I do this the other way around. I complain another annoying tv commercial has ruined my favorite song, however this time Honda smoked my sense of musical superiority with Heypenny's "Parade. "

You thought this was Steve, right?  "Steve Burns" from Blue's Clues? Ha.  Well, it's not.  It never was.  Meet the real Steve. Steve is all grown up.  I mean,   all grown up and, boy, is he deep. Check out The Moth presents Steve Burns: Fameishness   which oddly depresses me although  I can't quite figure out why, yet. Is it... A.)  Because he's not really talking to the that kid (Me?  My kids?) inside the camera anymore? B.)  Because he really is that bald? C.)  Because he let animators pressure him into allowing Snookie do a lap dance on the Big Red Chair? D.)  He makes fun of the mail dance?  (Do NOT dis the "Mail's Here" dance.) E.)   The real Steve is gloomier than  Holden Caulfield  in Catcher in the Rye? F.)   All of the above. Yeah.  It's "F."  Duh. Isn't it bad enough our own kids have to grow up?  or do we also have to wit...

Thoseof us living here in Southern California who have also lived in Vermont know what a shock news of Hurricane Irene's floods there was. In a place with as much unspeakable beauty and quiet history as Vermont has, news of this kind of violent destruction there is almost unthinkable. However, the truth is everything changes. Sometimes change is gradual and predicted, sometimes not. Treasure each fleeting moment on this planet. Embrace and release all that which you love, whom you love, and in this particlar case, where you love -- for surely we cannot hold on to everything. We are all in motion. My heart goes out to everyone in Vermont who is now having to pick up the pieces of their homes, towns and roads. May they carry every treasured memory in their hearts with them. And, I might add -- May our political leaders TAKE HEED. Our environment is ALL IMPORTANT. IF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION MAKES ME CONSERVATIVE: I'M A CONSERVATIVE. STOP GLOBAL WARMING.

This is someone else's photo album of Broad Brook Road in Algiers-Guilfored, Vt. Folder of photos captures some lovely views of a tiny corner of the world where my folks still live. So beautiful there.